Chance to Shape FP Training, Education Prompts Career Move

I've lived my whole life in Indiana. My children --
like the three generations before them -- grew up here as well. Those children,
now adults, still live near us here in Indianapolis.

My education and training -- from Ball State
University to the Indiana University School of Medicine and the family medicine
residency at Community Health Network -- all happened in the Hoosier State.

I'll be leaving my home state of Indiana behind next month to start a new job as the AAFP's vice president of education at the Academy's offices in Leawood, Kan.

My career started in rural private practice in the
small town of Flora, Ind. -- population 2,000 -- before I came back to
Indianapolis as faculty at the residency where I had trained. I stayed with
Community Health Network for more than 20 years as residency director, vice
president of medical affairs for two of its hospitals, chief medical officer
for the entire eight-hospital network and, most recently, as the network's
chief academic and medical affairs officer.

So what would it take to get me to leave my home
state? Nothing less than a chance to make a positive, lasting difference in the
education and training of medical students, family medicine residents and our
active members on a national scale. That, of course, goes hand-in-hand with
enhancing the quality of care delivered by our specialty.

I'll be leaving my position on the AAFP Board of
Directors on May 3 (after the Board meets during the Annual Leadership Forum
and National Conference of Special Constituencies). Nine days later, I'll start
a new journey in Leawood, Kan., as the Academy's vice president for education.

I feel as though I have been training for this role
for the past three decades. The majority of my career has been devoted to
medical education and improving quality of care, so it's a natural fit. For
example, for the past five years, my job responsibilities have included
oversight of medical student education at our network's hospitals, our
residency programs and the CME offerings we produce.

At the AAFP, I will be responsible for the Academy's
efforts related to medical education and CME, including the education and
training of medical students and residents; student interest in our specialty,
including federal policies that affect it; and CME curriculum development,
production, accreditation and regulations.

Many challenges await, but I'm excited to lead the
AAFP's excellent staff who work in these areas, including those who support two
commissions -- the Commission on Continuing Professional Development and the
Commission on Education -- composed of family physicians who volunteer their
time to address these vital issues.

We must ensure that medical students have top-notch
exposure to family medicine and that they have good experiences when they do.
That can be difficult, in part, because practicing physicians who enjoy
teaching have competing demands for their time. But there is no doubt that good
role models help build student interest in the specialty.

We are facing a shortage of primary care physicians
that likely will worsen because of an aging population, a sizable number of
physicians nearing retirement and a large number of patients gaining access to
insurance as a result of health care reform. More -- and more targeted --
funding for family medicine residencies
is needed to meet this demand, and GME funding and reform are high on the list
of the Academy's legislative priorities.

Family physicians want to keep up-to-date with
evidence-based CME, and the Academy will continue to improve and expand its
offerings to ensure timely and convenient access to high-quality CME. We will
build on the strong programing currently offered, and we always appreciate input from our members on how to better serve their
CME needs.

On a more personal note, the challenges of this role
also include succeeding the immensely accomplished and respected Perry
Pugno, M.D., M.P.H., who is retiring after 40 years in family medicine, including 15 years of
service to the Academy.

The challenges are great, but so are the
opportunities. The key to improving health care in this country is to make it
more primary care-oriented by placing greater emphasis on prevention and
wellness. Family medicine is the specialty that does that better than any
other. I am proud to have this opportunity to further strengthen our specialty
through continuing efforts to enhance medical education at all levels.

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